Spindle structure



Jun@ M, 194% A G. F. YAGER SPINDLE STRUCTURE Filed Deo. 27, 1945 Q2 sheets-.sheen 1 JNVENTOR.

GEORGE FYVAGER QBY M I g v ATTORNEYS June 10, 1941 G, F YAGER 2,422,061

SPINDLE STRUCTURE Filed Deo. 27, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HIJ FIGQS.

IIS

INVENTOR. GEORGE F. YAGEFl ,ATTORNEYS Patented June 10, 1947 Bunting Brass & Bronze Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Company, "loledo,`

`Application December 27, 1943, Serial No. 515,776 y 11 claims. (cl. sos- 172) l f This invention relates generally to spindle assemblies and refers more particularly to an improved spindle assembly adapted for use in boring, turning, facing, or grinding machines for carrying and driving the chuck or holder for the work. u

One of the essential objects of the invention is to provide an assembly of the plain bearing type that avoids the use of ball bearings and that; will outlast and outrun spindle assemblies of the ball bearing type. y

Another object is to provide an assembly having an improved bearing structure and lubricating system for the rotating spindlel Another object is to provide an assembly that is better for precision Work;`

Another object is to provide an assembly that comprises fewer parts, is less expensive to manufacture, is less likely to require service, and has elements that may be easily repaired or replaced.

Another object is to provide an assembly7 wherein the rotatable element or spindle is mounted in such a way that it has an immense load carrying capacity and is :capable of operating without deflection. i

Other objects, advantages and novel details of construction of this invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through an assembly embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a` detail elevational view of the thrust washerof the thrust bearingassembly;

Figure 3 is an edge `elevation of thewasher illustrated in Figure 2; V y y Figure4 is an enlarged fragmentary View showing one of the oil grooves and bevelled edges illustrate'd in Figure 2; Y

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 but show,- ing a slight modification; A

Figure 6 is 'a sectional view taken substantially on the line 6'8 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an end View of the structure illustrated inFigure 5. 1

Referring to the drawings, Ais'the housing, B is the spindle, C and D respectively areplain tubular bearings for the spindle,` EandF respectively are sleeves for the tubular bearings, H'is a thrust bearing assembly for the spindle, J is a drive pulley for the spindle, and K is a chuck holder of a spindle assembly embodying my invention. i i.

As shown the housing A is substantially tubular in form and isprovided at opposite ends thereof:

with inwardly projecting annular enlargements I0 and Il for the reception of the tubular bearings C and D and sleeves E and F therefor;4 The spindle B is mounted to turn in the bearf ings C and D and projects beyond opposite ends of the housing A. The drive pulley J is lkeyed upon a reduced endlportion' or endwise extension I2 of thespindle, While `the chuckholder K is sleeved upon and welded to an enlarged end portion I3 of the spindle. i. u Thethrust bearing assembly H forthe spindle has two washers 20 and 2| respectively of substantially uniform diameter .keyed in longitudinally spaced relation upon the reduced portion l2 of the spindle between ashoulder 22 thereof and the pulleyJfa spacingrwasher 23 of smaller diameter also, keyed Aon'the reduced portion I 2 of the spindlebetweenthe washers 2l)v and 2l, and a thrust washer 24 nxed tothe housing A and encircling the spacing washer 23. l

` Preferably a'single key 25 extending lengthwise of the reduced portion I2 of` the spindleserves as `a commonconnector, between the spindle, pulley J and Washers 202I and 23, while a singlenut 26 threaded on theouter end of the reduced por.- tion J2 of the spindle holds the pulley J and washers 20, 2l and23 in assembled relation relative to the shoulder 22 of the spindle. u

The thrust washer 24 is clamped between the adjacent `end 2 1 of the housing and a co1lar28 bolted thereto. Suitable dowels (not shown) projecting endwise from fthe `housing A engage holes 29 in the thrust washer 24 and other holes (not shown) in the collar 28 to position thethrust washer 24 and collar 28 in proper relation to the housing `A, while suitable bolts (not shown) also carried by thehousingengage holes 30 in the thrustfwasher 24 and other holes (not shown) `in the collar V28 to hold the washer and collar on the dowels. i y l i `Inthe present instance opposite sides ofthe thrust washer 24 are provided in opposed relation to thewashers 2li and 2| with radially extending grooves 3| thatare adapted to be supplied with oil `for lubricatingpurposes frornan oil inlet 32 in the housing A. Preferably oil from this. inlet ilows through passages 33 and 134 in the housing and through` passages 35 and 36 in the thrust washer to the Vspace 3l between said washer 24 and the spacing washer 23 and thence to the oil grooves 3l.V g Y As shown in Figures 2 and 4, thev edges of` these grooves` 3l are vbevelled laterally at V38 so that the oil supplied: to the grooves may spread laterally `over the opposed faces of the 1 Washers 20,

24 and 2|. Inasmuch as the thrust washer 24 is held by the dowels and bolts mentioned in proper assembled relation to the housing, the oil passage 35 in the washer 24 will be held in proper registration with the passage 34 in the housing A to insure proper supply of oil to the grooves 3| aforesaid.

The collar 28 encircles an annular part `4t of the pulley and is recessed at 4| to receive the outermost washer 20. To prevent oil in this recess 4| leaking out or escaping through the clearance 43 between the pulley J and collar 2 ,1the

annular part 40 of the pulley is provided .within the recess 4I with an annular rib @lilV that ,constitutes an oil slinger for throwing'the oil away from such clearance space.

In addition to the oil inlet v33, there are two other inlets 50 and 5| respectively atlongitudinally spaced points of the housing A for supplying oil to oppositely extending spiral grooves 52 and 53 respectively in the spindle B. Preferably oil from the inlet 50 is fed through registering passages '54 55 and l50 respectively in the housing A, sleeve E and tubular bearing C to the spiral groove 52, while oil from the inlet I is fed through registering passages 51, 50 and 59 respectively in the housing A, sleeve F and tubular bearing D to the spiral groove 53. Thus oil is spread over the working surfaces of the tubular bearings C and D as the spindle B is rotating. In this connection the edges, especially the ltrailing edge, of each spi-ral groove, are rounded to facilitate the spread of oil over such working surfaces.

Oil discharged from the spiral vgrooves 52 and '5.3 is conducted to a sump l00 at the center of the housing A. For example, `cil from the spiral groove 52 will work endwise between the tubular bearing C and spindle B to an annular space 0| of L cross-section between vthe sleeve '-E and thrust bearing assembly H, thence through a hole 62 in the housing A to an inclined-passage 63 leading to. the sump 60. Oil from ther spiral groove 03 will work endwise between the tubular bearing D and spindle B to an annular space 1-0 between sleeve F and spindle B, thence through an inclined passage 'lI in the sleeve F to an inclined passage 12 in ,the housingY A leading to the sump 60. To prevent oil in the Aspa-ce 'l0 leaking out or escaping through the clearance 13 between the sleeve F and chuck holder K, the spindle B is provided in the space with an annular rib 15 that constitutes an oil slinger for throwing the oil away fromsuch clearance space.

Oil from the thrust bearing assembly H is also conducted to the sump 50. For example, oil working 'from the opposed surfaces of the wasliers 20, 24 and 2| will 'be received in a slot or recess 80 inthe collar 28 and will Vflow from such recess through a hole 8| in the thrust washer to the inclined passage 0.3 in the housing A. When the parts are assembled, the dowels for the thrust washer 24 and colla-r 20 will provide proper positioning of such elements relative to the housing so that the hole 8| in the thrust washer 24 will register with the inclined passage 03 in the housing, and the recess 80 in the collar will lregister with the hole v8| in lthe thrust washer.V A ring 00 of greater diameter than the spindle B is loose on the spindle 'within the sump 00 and cooperates with the spindle during rotation thereof to facilitate the transfer of oil from the sumpA via the spiral grooves `52 and 53 to the working surfaces of the tubular bearings C and D. In use, the housing A maybe mounted by any suitable means .(not shown) upon or within the -5| respectively of the lubricating system so that the rotation of the spindle B will be smooth. In

' fact .the lubrication is such that the spindle B has an immense load carrying capacity without deection. Thus I have provided a more rigid assembly that avoids chatter and permits a liner and more precise tool operation to b obtained in close limits on the work.

In Figures 5 to '7 inclusive I have illustrated a slight modification wherein a quill A is employed as thehousing, the thrust bearing assembly H is on a reduced portion |00 of the spindle B between a shoulder` IOI thereof and a pair of cooperating nuts |02 and |03 respectively at one end of the quill, and the spiral grooves I 04 and |05 extend in opposite directions from a central point |06 of the rotatable spindle. Aside from vthese and a fevv minor changes which will be described, the assembly is essentially the same as that illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive.

In this construction a drive pulley (not shown) is adapted to be xed to the projecting end |01 of the spindle, while a chuck or work holder (not shown) is adapted to be attached to the head |00 of the spindle.

|09 is a key by which the washers IIO, II I and I I2 respectively of the thrust bearing are connected to the reduced portion |00 of the spindle.

The nut |02 threadedly engages the reduced portion |00 of the spindle at the outer end of the key |09 and serves as an outer abutment for the outer washer IIO, while the nut |03 encircles the nut |02 and threadedly engages the quill A' at the outer side of the thrust washer I I3.

Oil from the inlet ||4 flows through a passage |I5 in the sleeve I|0 to connecting passages II'I and II8 in the thrust Washer II3, thence between the washers II I and I I3 to the radially extending grooves I I8 in opposite sides of the thrust washer II3. Such grooves IIS may be similar to the grooves 3| illustrated in Figures 2 and'4 and therefore may have bevelled edges corresponding to the bevelled edges 38 for spreading the oil over the opposed surfaces of the washers.

|20 is a pin carried by the quill and engaging a slot I2I in the sleeve IIS to prevent the sleeve from turning and also to keep the oil passage I I5 in proper registration with the oil inlet II4.

|22 is a pin carried by the quill and engaging a slot |23 in the thrust Washer I I3 to prevent the latter from turning and also to keep the Washer II3 in proper position relative to the sleeve IIB so that the oil passage II1 will be in proper registration with the passage I I5 in the sleeve.

The slot |23 in the thrust washer II3 not only receives the pin |22 but also serves as an oil passage to permit oil from the opposed-faces of the washers I I0, I I3 and I I2 respectively to reach the passage |24 leading to the sump |25.

Oil from the spiral groove |04 in the spindle is adapted to flow through an annular space |20 of L cross-section to the slot |23 in the thrust bearing I I3 and thence to the passage |24 leading to the sump |25.

|21 is an inlet for oil to the sump |25, and |28 4is a ring Vloose on the spindle B tofacilitate transfer of oil from the sump to the spiral grooves |04 andlUS, A Y |29 is an annular recess in the sleeve |3|l for the bearing |3| for receiving oil from the spiral groove |05, and |32 is a passage for conducting the oil from the recess 2 9 to the sump |25.

|33 is an annular rib on the spindle B for throwingor slinging oil in the recess |29 to prevent it from escapingthrough the clearance between the sleeve |30 and head U8 of the spindle. In use, the modication illustrated in Figures 5 to 7 inclusivel maybe mounted by any suitable means (not shown) upon or within a frame or housing of the machine in which it is to be used. After a drive pulley (not shown) is mounted upon the end portion I lll of the spindle, and a chuck or'work holder (not shown) is attached to the head ID3 of the spindle, the rotation of the spindle may be effected so that the work may be engage by the desired tool to obtain the proper boring, turning, facing, or grinding action.

While the spindle B is rotating, oil may be supplied to the inlets ||4 and |21 of the lubricating system so that the rotation of the spindle will be smooth, as aforesaid.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A spindle assembly having a housing, a spindle rotatable `in said housing having a reduced endwise extension and a shoulder at the inner end of said extension, spaced washers on said extension,` one engaging said shoulder, an abutment for the other of said washers on said extension, a spacing washer for said spaced washers on said extension, a thrust washer encircling the spacing washer lbetween said spaced washers and held against turning movement relative to said housing, a single key extending lengthwise of the extension and operable to hold the spaced and spacing washers aforesaid against turning movement relative to said extension, and means on the extension holding said washers in assembled relation with said key.

2. A spindle assembly having a housing, a

spindle rotatable in said housing and having a reduced endwise extension provided with longitudinally spaced abutments, one being adjustable, spaced washers on said extensionbetween and bearing against said abutments, a spacing washer for said spaced washers on said extension, a thrust washer encircling the spacing washer between said spaced washers and held against turning movement relative to said housing, and a single key extending lengthwise of the extension and operable to hold the spaced and spacing washers aforesaid against turning movement relative to said extension.

3. A spindle assembly having a housing, a spindle rotatable in the housing and having a reduced endwise extension and a shoulder at the inner end of said extension, a power transmitting element keyed to said extension, spaced washers keyed to said extension between the power transmitting element and shoulder, a spacing washer for said spaced washers keyed to said extension, a collar encircling one of said spaced washers and connected to said housing, and a thrust washer encircling the spacing washer between said spaced washers and clamped between the collar and housing.

4. A spindle assembly having a housing, a spindle rotatably supported in the housing and having axially spaced shoulders, a pair of washers on the spindle between the shoulders, an annular spacer on the spindle between the washers for spacing said washers axially of said spindle, a

thrust disc supported between the washers in concentric relation to the spacerand having" an internal diameter suiliciently greater than theoutside diameter of the spacer toprovide an annular space for lubricant, and means for conducting lubricant to said annular space.

5. A spindle assembly having a housing, a, spindle rotatably supported in the housing and having axially spaced shoulders, a pair of washers on thespindle between the shoulders, an annular spacer `on the spindle between Vthe washers for spacing said washers axially of said spindle, a thrust disc supported between the washers in concentric relation to the spacer and having an internal diameter sufliciently greater than thev outside diameter of the spacer to provide an annular space for lubricant, said thrust disc having grooves in opposite sides extruding radially outwardly from said annular space and cooperating with theadjacent sides of the said pair of washers to provide pockets for lubricant, and means for conducting lubricant to said annular space.

6. A spindle assemblyhaving a housing, a spindle rotatably supported in the housing and having axially spaced shoulders, a pair of washers on the spindle between the shoulders, an annular spacer on the spindle between the washers for spacing said washers axially of said spindle, a thrust disc supported between the washers in concentric relation tothe spacer and having an internal diameter suiciently greater than the outside diameter ofthe spacer to provide an annular space for lubricant, the outside diameter of the thrust disc being greater than the corresponding diameters of the washers and said disc having circumferentially spaced grooves in opposite sides extending radially outwardly from said annular space tothe periphery of the washers, said grooves cooperating `with the adjacent surfaces of the washers to provide pockets for lubricant, and means for conducting lubricant to said annular space. i

'7; A spindle assembly having a housing, a spindle rotatably supported in the housing and having axially spaced shoulders, a pair of washers on Athe spindle between the shoulders, an annular spacer on the spindle between the washers for spacing said washers axially of said spindle, a thrust` disc supported between the washers in concentric relation to the spacer and having an internal diameter suiiiciently greater than the outside diameter of the spacer to provide an annular space for lubricant, said thrust disc having grooves in opposite sides extending radially outwardly from said annular space and having the surfaces bordering the grooves beveled to provide with the adjacent surfaces of the washers pockets of substantial area for lubricant, and means for conducting lubricant to the annular space.

8. A spindle assembly having a housing, a spindle rotatably supported in the housing and having axially spaced shoulders, a pair of washers on the spindle between the shoulders, an annular spacer on the spindle between the washers for spacing said washers axially of said spindle, a thrust disc supported between the washers in concentric relation to the spacer and having an internal diameter sufficiently greater than the outside diameter of the spacer to provide an annular space for lubricant, the outside diameter of the thrust disc being greater than the corresponding diameters of the washers and said disc having circumferentially spaced grooves in opposite sides extending radially outwardly from said aaaacciv annular space to the periphery of the vWashers and having the. surfaces bordering the-grooves beveled vto form with the adjacent surfaces of the washers pockets of substantial area for lubricant, means for conducting lubricant to the annular space, means for securing said disk to said housing and means for securing the washers and spacer to the spindle.

9. A spindle assembly comprising a-housing, a spindle rotatably supported in the housing, a pair of washers keyed to lsaid spindle, an annular spacer keyed to said spindle, means rigidly retaining said washers and spacer in abutting relation and against axial movement on said spindle, said spacer being of substantially less outside diameter .than said washers, an annular thrust washer fixed to said housing and extending into the space between said pair of washers, the inside diameter of said thrust washer being greater than the outside diameter of said spacer so as to provide an annularspa-ce for lubricant, means for conducting lubricant to said annular space, the overlapping portions of said thrust washer and said pair of washers providing cooperating pairs of bearingsurf-aces.

10. A spindle assembly comprising a housing, a spindle rotatably supported in the housing, a pair of washers keyed to said spindle, an annular spacer keyed to said spindle, means rigidly retaining said washers and spacer in abutting relation and against axial movement yon said spindle, said spacer being of substantially less outside diameter than said washers, an annular thrust washer xed to said housing and extending into the space between said pair of washers, the inside diameter of said thrust washer being greater than the outside diameter of said spacer so as to provide an annular space for lubricant, means for conducting lubricant to said annular space, the overlapping portions of said thrust washer and said pair of washers providing cooperating pairs of bearing surfaces, one surface of at least one of said pairs of bearing surfaces being provided with generally radial grooves extending from said annular space substantially throughout the overlapping extent of said bearing surfaces s as to provide substantially `closed pockets for lubricants communicating with said annular space.

11. A spindle assembly comprising a housing, a

spindle rotatably supported vin the housing, a pair of washers keyed to said spindle, an annular spacer keyed to said spindle, means rigidly retaining said washers and spacer in abutting relation and against axial movement on said spindle, said spacer being of substantially less outside diameter than said washers, an annular thrust washer xed to said housing and extending into the space between said pair of washers, the inside diameter of said thrust washer being greater than the outside diameter of said spacer so as to provide an annular space for lubricant, means for conducting lubricant to said annular space, the overlapping portions of said thrust washer and said pair of washers providing cooperating pairs of bearing surfaces, one surface of at least one of said pairs of bearing surfaces being provided with gener-ally radial grooves extending from said annular space substantially throughout the overlapping extent of said bearing surfaces so as to provide substantially closed pockets for lubricants communicating with said annular space, the bearing surface adjacent said grooves being beveled outwardly from said grooves.

GEORGE F. YAGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,249,843 Marsland July 22, 1941 1,557,524 Hanson Oct. 13, 1925 1,619,995 Turner Mar. 8, 1927 2,001,823 Knowlton May 21, 1935 2,229,237 Brenkert Jan. 21, 1941 2,046,092 Rosendahl June 30, 1936 2,271,741 Manseld Feb. 3, 1942 2,325,404 Irons July 27, 1943 2,085,240 Walgren et al June 29, 1937 2,081,063 Oliver May 18, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 528,443 Great Britain Oct. 29, 1940 197,369 Switzerland July 16, 1938 33,640 Austria July 10, 1908 397,790 Germany July 2, 1924 

